Kevin Liles leaves Def Jam
REUTERS
Posted to rec.music.hip-hop on (publication date not stated in the post)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kevin Liles, president of Def Jam Recordings, has left the company, it says.
Def Jam Recordings is a unit of Island Def Jam Music Group, a unit of Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group.
There was no information regarding Liles' plans.
But industry sources said on Thursday Liles, a well-regarded industry executive, was forced out following tensions with Island Def Jam Chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid, who replaced Liles' long-time associate, Lyor Cohen, in January.
Cohen stepped down from the job to become chairman of Warner Music Group and chief executive of U.S. Recorded Music.
Reid, who formerly held the position of president and CEO at Arista, has been bringing in various colleagues from that label, including Steve Bartels, who was recently named president of Island Records.